Appliance for treating goiter.



F. c. WERNER.

APPLIANCE FOR TREATING GOITER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9. 1915.

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Patented July 11, 1916.

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FREDERICK G. WERNER, E WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN.

'AIPJPLIANCE TREATING GOITER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, .EREDERIOK C. WER- NEH, a citizen of the United States, residing at lWatertown, in the county of Jefierson and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Tmprovement'in Appliances for Treating Groiter, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to appliances for treating goiter, and has for its object the provision of such a device whereby galvanic currents adaptable for electrotherapeutic uses such for instance as above outlined may be produced.

It is well known in the medical field that uni-directional currents, or galvanic currents, have been employed effectively in the treatment of goiter and that this disease has also been successively treated by the use of mercury, zinc, and iodin compounds.

, ing beads of amber, glass, insulating In the electrogalvanic treatment of goiter a limitation has been found where special electrodes with external sources of current are used, in that the treatment is applied intermittently fora few minutes at a time and requiring many treatments.

The purposes of this invention are to embody a means of generating galvanic currents in contact with the skin, in the presence of mercurous iodid and calcium chlorid; the device consisting of a chain or neck-- lace of ornamental appearance and of easy and comfortable application, so that the wearer can apply the treatment with a minimum of discomfort and inconvenience.

The appliance embodies a multiplicity of galvanic couples consisting of zinc and copper plates connected-together meta lically, with spacers between, consisting of insulatcomposition or other similar materials. These couples become active by the edges of the zinc and copper disks coming in contact with the skin, which has been prepared by the application of an ointment containing suitable materlals, such as a combinationof mercurous iodid and calciumchlorid. The skin thus treated constitutes the electrolytic portion of the galvanic cell. This establishes a path for the current and a mild galvanic current will thus flow. The electro-chemical action of a cell such as this can be readily understoodif we would as- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July ill, 49448.

Application filed. August 9, 1915. Serial No. 44,564.

sume a jar from which two electrodes pro- ]ect, one of which could be a zinc anode and the other a copper cathode and these two electrodes were connected together metallically by a suitable conductor. A suitable electrolyte would then be placed in the jar consisting of a calcium chlorid and mercurous iodid. The current would then flow from the anode through the electrolyte to the cathode. The effect of this current is to attract toward the anode the chlorin and the iodin 1011s, and to attract toward the cathode the mercury and calcium ions. There will thus be formed at the anode zinc iodid and zinc chlorid, while mercury tends to be deposited at the cathode. It will thus be seen that there is a chemical action at the electrode surfaces, combined with a migration action on the substances which are in solution.

In the electro-therapeutic device the electrolyte consists of the skin, which is in itself slightly conductive but which is rendered more conductive by the presence of calcium chlorid and mercurous iodid. The chief purpose of the mercurous iodid is to furnish materials having suitable medicinal properties, while the chief function of the calcium chlorid is, due to its hygroscopic property, to attract moisture. The calcium chlorid thus combined with water furnishes the electrolyte by which the electrolytic action can be initiated. The formation of zinc iodid and zinc chlorid likewise produces compounds which are hygroscopic, which likewise attract moisture and tend to add to the conductivity of theelectrolytic part ofthe circuit. The flow of current which is thus established exercises the well known cataphoretic effect, causing certain constituents to travel through the skin in the direction of the cathode, or producing cataphoresis. I thus have here the presence of suitable medicinal materials combined with a uni-directional current which causes these materials to pass through the skin to thus become readily absorbed in the circulatory system. This galvanic chain is used in the form of a belt or necklace which is strapped or "tied around the body in such a manner that the effective portion thereof shall overlie the affected part, and it differs further from other similar devices in not providing any electrolyte or other source ofv current produced within the belt or chain itself, such electrolyte being provided by means of medicament which is spread upon the surface of the over the affected part, the I electrolysis accelerating the desired effect ment.

and causing the penetration of such medica- In the case of goiter, for which the appliance is more particularly intended, the necklace is divided in the middle in such manner as to spreadon both sides of the enlargement, thus producing both a physical and medical effect; viz. to hold the necklace in place and tc distribute the medicative action of the appllance. The nature of the invention will behest understood by consideration of the followmg detailed description thereoftaken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in 'which Figure 1 is a perspective. view of the appliance in its approved form, and Fig. -2

is a longitudinal section through a few of metal end pleces. c: and" rings 03 engaged affected portion of whichis supplied by the skintherewith. In the middle portion which is in use and is to be disposed over the tissue to be treated, that'is to say upon the enlargement constituting the goiter, the cord 6 is divided into two branches, each of which carries a completeset of the beads as shown. On the divided portion, between the beads a, are metal disks f and g, these being respectively of electropbsitive and electronegative materials, such as zinc and copper, and are alternately disposed as indicated holding the bifurcated portion of the necklace is a metallic conductor such as copper wire which furnishes the necessary metallic connection to the metal disks to make them electro-chemically active.

In use, an ointment is applied to the skin which increases the electrolytic conductivity of the skin and the necklace v is then put in place with the bifurcated portion over the part so that the disks f and 9 rest I against the skin. There is thus produced a series of individual cells, the electrolytic and the ointment, no external source of current being required. for'the therapeutic-effect. 4 c

In Fig. 2 I show the device as applied negzt to the skin a with the layer of ointment h in place.

From what has been described it i is thought the nature of my mventionwill be readily clear to those skilled in the art.

scale,

. trodes of each pair occupying electrical engagement, and beads more clearly in Fig. 2., The cord 6- 1. A device of the character described consisting of a'belt or necklace having a plurality of electrodes arranged in pairs, the two electrodes of each pair occupying different positions a metallic cord upon which said electrodes'are strung and with which said electrodes have electrical engagement, and beads of insulating material interposed between said electrodes, said electrodes together with theirconnection forming the external circuit of individual galvanic cells,

the protruding portionsof said electrodes being adapted in connection with a, suitable electrolyte to cause a flow of miniature electric currents of uni-directional current for to the same therapeutic purposes.

'2. A devlce of thecharacter. described" consisting of a belt or necklace provided with a loop, said loop havin'g a plurality of electrodes arranged in pairs, the two elecdifie'rent positions in the electro-chemica scale, a metallic cord upon which said ;electrodes are strung and with which said electrodes have of insulating I trodes, said electrodes together with their connection forming the external circuit of individual galvanic cells, the protruding portions of said electrodes being adapted in connection with a suitable electrolyte to cause a flow of miniature electric currents in the electro-chemical.

material interposed between said elecof uni-directional current for therapeutic purposes.

3. A device of the character described consisting of a belt or necklace having a plurality of electrodes arranged in pairs, the-twoelectrodes of each pair occupying different positions in the electro-chemical scale, means for metallically electrically connecting adjoining electrodes together, and beads of' insulating material interposed between said electrodes, said electrodes together with their connection forming the external circuitof individual galvanic cells, the protruding portions of said electrodes being adapted in connection with a suitable electrolyte to cause a flow of miniature electric currents of uni-directional current 'for therapeutic purposes.

4. A device of the character described consisting of a belt or necklace provided with aloop, said loop having a pluralityof electrodes arranged in pairs, the two .electrodes of each pair occupying difi'erent positions in the electro-chemical scale, means forv metallically electrically connecting adtheir connection forming the external circuit of individual galvanic cells, the .protruding portions of said electrodes being adapted in connection with a suitable electrolyte to cause a flow of miniature electric currents of uni-directional current for therapeutic purposes.

In Witness whereof, hereunto subscribe my name this 22nd day of July, A. D., 1915.

FREDERICK G. WERNER.

Witnesses:

F. P.'R0EM ER,' HERMAN ROEMER. 

